Coalition Plans New Application

The Coalition for College, founded several years ago as an alternative to the Common Application, is planning to change its application. “Rather than provide a separate application, the Coalition for College will integrate the application process within Scoir, software that many students and counselors use every day. Scoir makes its robust set of college advising tools free to all students and free to Title I eligible schools,” said a press release from the coalition. It said the new integrated application process would begin in the summer.

Stacey Kostell, CEO of the coalition, said the new application would “strengthen our support for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education.”

A spokeswoman for the coalition said the coalition was creating the application.

The coalition has 165 colleges as members, while the Common App has more than 900.

Jenny Rickard, president and CEO of the Common Application, said, “We applaud all efforts aimed at reducing barriers for students to apply to college. We look forward to learning more about how this initiative will work for students and those who support them.”

She added, “The college admissions landscape is ripe for change, and we’ll continue to work with our members to help more students access, afford and attain postsecondary opportunities.”

What About CollegeNET?

The Coalition didn’t announce it, but it is dropping CollegeNET as its technology provider.

Jill Thacker, associate vice president for corporate communications, said via email, “Over the past six years, CollegeNET and Coalition have worked successfully to build the membership base for the Coalition and expand the subscriber base for CollegeNET’s Intelligent Connections admissions application services. The formal marketing and services agreement between CollegeNET and the Coalition mirrors a branded promotion by a university whereby, for example, the university agrees with an insurer A to promote to its graduates a school branded version of A’s life insurance services during the term of the contract. Suppose that under such an arrangement various of the school’s graduates sign life insurance policies over time with A under the joint promotion. If the university decides some years later not to renew the promotion with A and instead enters a contract to promote the products of insurer B, the university’s non-renewal notice to A would not somehow terminate the many policies A had signed earlier with the university’s graduates.”

Thacker added, “The Coalition gave notice of non-renewal to CollegeNET on Dec 17, 2021. Our marketing and services contract remains in force until June 30, 2022. Just as CollegeNET continues to operate the service under this contract, CollegeNET expected the Coalition to uphold its responsibilities to continue promoting this service through the end of the contract term. Further, as in the insurance example above where the university’s decision not to renew with A did not somehow terminate the insurance policies contracted by A, CollegeNET did not want the Coalition to incorrectly announce to CollegeNET’s subscribers that their subscriber agreements with CollegeNET would automatically terminate as a consequence of the Coalition’s decision not to renew. This mistake, if made, would have amounted to interference with contractual relations. CollegeNET is grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside the Coalition for over six years helping the Coalition build its membership base … Yet even though we disagree with the Coalition on direction, we encourage and support all parties in their efforts to enroll underserved populations in college careers.”

Amanda Waite, director of communication for the coalition, said, “We’ve had discussions with CollegeNET about the transition and are in agreement that after June 30 CollegeNET services will not carry Coalition branding. We’re excited about our new direction and wish CollegeNET well as they pursue their own path.”